BRIDGES WE'VE CROSSED

Where once there was grief
With strength please replace
For sadness relief
Give peace in its place

We'll never forget
That all is not lost
We'll never regret
The bridges we've crossed

'Cause all is for good
And nothing's for naught
When life's understood
Through lessons it taught

To us send down grace
From powers above
That we might embrace
You fully with love

You've formed us, you've sent us
You've tried us, and proved us
All to transform us, augment us
Apply us, improve us

'Cause we are your prized
We shouldn't feel bad
When we are resized
A lot or a tad

We'll never regret
The price that was cost
And never forget
The bridges we've crossed


This poem is dedicated to my mom. Tomorrow is her birthday. She always was one who liked to learn from her hardships. In all her moments of trial, she never doubted or rebuked her savior. She simply asked, "How can I do better?" I took her teachings about trials and adversity on my mission with me. I would pray in companionship prayer, "Father, give us trials today that we might become stronger." My companion got kind of upset. He said, "Smith, we already have enough problems to deal with. We don't need God sending more." His mom didn't teach him what mine had. Trials are not obstacles in the path. They are the stepping stones at the base of a pyramid. Climb them and you will reach their heights!

So to all that struggle this day. Turn back around to the stressors and problems chasing you. Turn around and stand your ground. Be filled with the Light of Christ, and say to those things you fear, "Bring it, I AM here!"

SONG OF EARTH AND SKY: PART I

Listen oh ye fair and young!
The tale of Earth and Sky once past.
Its song from cliffs and clouds is sung
A doubtful friendship forged yet fast.

We tell the tale writ in song
When wing and hammer in concert beat.
Korin Ithrik’s earthen throngs
Laid aid at Arudanni feet.

Look up, fair one, in the azure sky
The wing-ed race strong and proud.
Though, t’was a time when they couldn’t fly
Nor claim the home among the cloud.

Sheenova wise the Welkin-mother
Looked down on Regnum long ago.
Commanded there be formed another,
A plume from her began to grow.

A race birthed from a single feather
Plucked from tail of Sheenova’s hind
From Her image they’re formed together
Aruda heirs forever twined

That feather fell from Aruda's throne
Descending down upon a pool
In Jalfast’s waters life was grown
Kravaku first, then Kukkatul.

Sheenova came, descent like a dove
To see Her children she had formed
And give them Law She hewed from Love
With promise they would be transformed.

The Goddess asked to never forget
Speaking to them of faith and trust:
"Ensure the poor that their needs are met
Denying self and turn from lust.

"If you will hark and obey this my law
In faith place at my judgment seat
All will I cause to see you in awe
And gift you wings on winds to beat."

Before their god, the two made this vow
“With all our race!” They shouted loud.
“Sheenova, please to our race endow
The gift of flight above the cloud!”

On Jalfast's shores together they made
A humble nest of reeds and clay
To harbor safe the eggs which they laid
In thoughtful care wait for the day,

A brood they'd raise with wings tinted gold
And 'pon these chicks a nation laid.
For this is how the story is told
From hen to chick so vows won’t fade.

....to be continued....

A bit of explanation. Like Galilee, My Home and a few others, this poem was written when I was helping create a world for our Roleplaying Campaign, called Regnum. The world was inhabited by various races. One of which was the Arudanni, a bird-man. They were supposedly created by the goddess of the sky, Uwa, who they called Sheenova. When she visited her Arudanni prophets she took the form of a massive mythical Aruda, sort of like a middle eastern thunderbird. The story is the inkling beginning of an epic poem that tells the story of a union made between this bird-man race and the Dwarves, which are lead by King Korin Ithrik.

The pool of Jalfast is a sacred pool that sits at the base of Mount Skyfast.

I wanted to post this poem for two reasons. I wanted to revise it. There were some areas where the rhythm got sort of choppy. Second, I wanted to continue this poem. After all, it was supposed to be an epic.